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The undergraduate Education Minor was created to give Binghamton students the opportunity to gain insight into the field of education in general and careers in education in particular (e.g., teacher, guidance counselor, school social worker).

For students admitted to the Minor prior to August of 2020, the Minor requires a total of four courses (16 credits); two of the courses are required, and two are electives. Students must also complete 10 action hours that consist of volunteer work and attendance at two Education Minor Events and one BearChat. Students have multiple options for selecting courses that suit their interests and academic schedules.

We do not currently have an undergraduate education major that leads to certification. Participation and completion of the Minor does not provide you with a New York state teaching certification.

However, we do have some accelerated degree programs in the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Educational Leadership (TLEL). In addition, a major in a content area plus the Minor can provide an excellent foundation to an eventual master's degree. Find out more about these and other initial teacher preparation programs.

Students may apply during our application window each semester, which typically falls around the mid-point of the semester. To stay up to date on when our applications open and close each semester, follow us on Instagram or email educationminor@binghamton.edu to join our prospective student email list for updates.

Students are allowed to apply as early as first-semester of their freshman year, but if they do not have a college GPA yet (from transfer or dual enrollment credits) their Education Minor acceptance will be conditional on obtaining a 3.00 GPA or above at BU before being fully admitted. Although the majority of our courses are 400-level and above, they are not restricted to Juniors and Seniors.

Students submit an application found on the TLEL website. Students may apply as soon as the second semester of their freshman year. After submitting an application, students will be notified of the outcome via email.

TLEL welcomes students from all undergraduate majors to apply to the undergraduate Education Minor.

Sometimes! Students may request to register for education courses without applying to the Education Minor by emailing us at educationminor@binghamton.edu. However, students in the Minor have priority in obtaining seats in our classes, so there may not always be available spaces for students outside of the Minor. Approval is at the discretion of the Minor's program coordinator. 

For courses to count, they must be approved by the Education Minor Coordinator. Please reach out to educationminor@binghamton.edu to inquire about possible opportunities to count transfer credits.

The Minor is designed to be achieved over at least two semesters, but we encourage students to allot more time to complete it, as there are limited numbers of courses and class seats available each semester for the Minor.

How do I register for Education Minor classes?

Around course registration time, students enrolled in the Minor will receive an email from the Education Minor with a Class Preferences form and instructions on how to complete it. After the deadline to submit the form, students will be placed into classes based on their responses and class availability. We use these forms to accommodate our large population of students and ensure that everyone has fair access to the classes that they need. Students MAY NOT register themselves for Ed Minor classes as they would for their other classes. Registering through BU Brain will not provide students with a seat in a class. 

What requirements are necessary to apply to the Education Minor?

Students must be undergraduates, have 2 or more semesters left to complete the Minor, and a 3.0 GPA or above (please refer to FAQ above about freshman GPAs when applying).

Can I take cross-listed classes or internships to fulfill both elective class requirements?

Only ONE elective class credit for the Minor can be fulfilled by a cross-listed class or internship opportunity. One elective credit MUST be an Ed Minor-run EDUC class (although they do not have an EDUC code, SPED 411 and CCPA 360 are Ed Minor-run classes).

I do not have the Education Minor listed on my DegreeWorks/some Education Minor details are incorrect on my DegreeWorks. What should I do?

Email educationminor@binghamton.edu